Disseminated adenovirus infection after allogeneic stem cell transplant and the potential role of brincidofovir - Case series and 10 year experience of management in an adult transplant cohort

•Adenoviral infection causes significant morbidity post bone marrow transplant.•The optimal management of disseminated adenoviral infection is undefined.•Brincidofovir shows promise in the management of disseminated adenoviral infection.

BackgroundAdenovirus infection is a recognized complication following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We present a review of our experience of these infections in our transplant cohort over 10 years including 3 patients treated with the novel antiviral brincidofovir.ObjectivesWe aimed to describe the presentation, response to treatment and outcomes of adult stem cell transplant patients with disseminated adenovirus infection.Study designAll adult cases of disseminated adenovirus infection following haematopoietic stem cell transplant in our unit between 2005 and 2015 were identified. Transplant details and data on timing of diagnosis, course of infection, viral co-infection and treatment were collected.ResultsOf 733 patients transplanted, 10 patients had disseminated infection, including 4 male and 6 female patients with median age of 36.5 (range 19-59) years. 6/10 received an allograft from an unrelated donor. Median post-transplant time to detection of viraemia was 67 days (range 20-1140 days). Median peak viral load was 3133 copies/ml (352-11,000,000) in survivors received cidofovir alone, one cidofovir then brincidofovir and two brincidofovir alone. 8/10 p and 1,580,000 copies/ml (41,999-3,000.000) in those who died.Five patientsatients had a decrease in viral load following antivirals and/or reduction in immunosuppression including all on brincidofovir. Three died on treatment.ConclusionsDisseminated adenovirus infection is uncommon in adult transplant patients and uncertainties remain surrounding effective treatment. In our cohort, brincidofovir has shown promise in treatment of adenoviral infection. However, randomized controlled studies are required to confirm this impression.